Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 4 – Verse 4
1 JOHN 1.4.
And theſe things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
FOr the meaning of theſe word, we muſt ſhew you
1 What is here meant by Joy: 2 How this joy is ſaid to be full.
1 Some by Joy underſtand that glorious Eſtate full of delight and pleaſure which the Saints in Heaven enjoy, and we our ſelves hope for after this life, according to that Pſalm 16. ult. but here I ſuppoſe (though that be not excluded, but followeth upon the other) to be meant that joy in the Holy Ghoſt, which ſuch as have fellowſhip with Chriſt enjoy in this life,
The Reaſons why I think ſo are two.
1 Becauſe though in Heaven be fullneſſe of joy, yet in Scripture phraſe, Heaven (to my remembrance) is no where called full of joy, nay in St. Johns courſe of ſpeech there is another on this ſide Heaven which is called full joy, 2 Joh. 11. Joh. 16.24. & 15.11.
2 What St. John meaneth by this end of his writing, fullneſſe of joy, we may eaſily conjecture by the means he uſeth to procure it to us, now if you mark it, the whole courſe of his writing is in a manner nothing elſe but a laying down of certain marks, whereby we may examin our ſelves; and diſcern whether we have fellowſhip with God or no, whether we be in the Eſtate of Grace or no, See one, verſe 6, 7. another, 8, 9. another, Chap. 2. verſe 3. now theſe marks do not ſo directly tend to procure us fullneſſe of joy in Heaven, as to ſettle our hearts in the aſſurance of this point, that we are in the Eſtate of Grace, and ſo may reap and receive, true and ſound Peace of conſcience, and full joy in the Holy Ghoſt.
So that by full joy, I here underſtand joy in the Holy Ghoſt.
For the better and more profitable handling whereof there is to be ſhewn.
1 What this Joy is. 2 How it is ſaid to be full. 3 Some Corolaries from thence. For the firſt, What this Joy is.
Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, is a ſpiritual affection ariſing from peace of conſcience, whereby we rejoyce in our union with Chriſt, with joy unſpeakable and glorious. Or joy in the Holy Ghoſt is a ſpiritual affection, whereby the heart is unſpeakably and gloriouſly enlarged and raviſhed upon the ſolid apprehenſion of union and communion with Chriſt.
1 It is a ſpiritual joy] not only becauſe the objects of it are ſpiritual good things, union with Chriſt, and the benefits which we reap from it. (Adoption, Righteouſneſſe, Holineſſe, protection of Angels, dominion over the Creatures, right to a glorious inheritance) but alſo and that more principally, becauſe it is wrought in us by the holy Spirit, hence it is called Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14.17. hence he is called the Comforter John 15. penult. when God and Chriſt are ſaid to dwell in the hearts of faithfull men, nothing elſe is meant; but the Holy Ghoſt dwelling in them, and working this joy (John 14.23. Rev. 3.20.) John 14.18. compared with John 16.7. & 22.
2 Ariſing from Peace of Conſcience] Rom. 14.17. Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. now peace of conſcience is a work of the Holy Ghoſt, which ariſeth from feeling of our righteouſneſſe, or our juſtification before God, for to be juſtified before God, is not enough to pacifie the the conſcience, unleſſe it be felt. See Davids example, Pſalm 51.8, 12. Hence ariſeth that diſtinction of four ſorts of conſciences,
1 Quiet, but not good, Luke 11.21.
2 Good, but not quiet, Pſal. 51.17.
3 Neither good nor quiet, Gen. 4.13, 14.
4 Both quiet and good, Luke 1.47.
Hence is that alſo, Prov. 15.15. it is a cauſe of continual joy in the Holy Ghoſt, as a continual feaſt is of continual mirth.
3 Whereby we rejoyce in our union with Chriſt] 1 Pet. 1.8. in whom we do believe and rejoyce, yea rejoyce in him whoſe by faith you are; Gal. 6.4. this is ſhewn alſo, in that it ariſeth from peace, and peace from righteouſneſſe, but by union with Chriſt.
4 With joy unſpeakable and glorious] theſe words may ſeem to expreſſe ſome accidental things to this joy, but becauſe the nature of it cannot be well declared in it ſelf, theſe words ſhadow out the nature of it, 1 Pet. 1.8. This Joy is.
1 Unſpeakable, becauſe it is better felt than expreſſed, Prov. 14.10. like to bodily health.
2 Glorious, both becauſe it is a glimps of the Glory, and the Joys of Heaven; hence the Spirit that works it, is called The earneſt of our inheritance, Epheſ. 1.14. and becauſe it triumphs gloriouſly againſt all cauſes of grief and ſorrow, Rom. 5.3. Acts 20.23, 24.
2 How is this joy ſaid to be full?
1 In oppoſition to that joy which ariſeth from the things of this life, this is more full than that Pſal. 4.6, 7. thoſe are empty joys to this, witneſſe,
1 The variety of them, if there were full joy to be had by them, what need we to ſeek for variety? Wherefore doth the Bee ſuck ſo many Flowers, if ſhe could finde Hony enough in one?
2 The mixture in them of ſorrow, Prov. 12.13.
3 The ſhortneſſe of them, that which muſt be full joy to an eternal Soul muſt be eternal, whereas theſe are not, Job 2.5.
2 In oppoſition to that joy which Chriſtians have in Chriſt Jeſus too, but yet is often eclipſed, and in the wain, as I may ſo ſay, through manifold doubtings of our eſtate, 1 Pet. 1.6.
Ʋſe 1. If by the Apoſtles Doctrin full joy may be had, then there is no need of Traditions, if joy may be full by the Word written, what then can they adde?
Ʋſe 2. Then they embrace an empty ſhadow of joy, that ſeek joy in earthly things, which are like empty Pits, Jer. 2.13. though the ſtars ſhould ſhine always to us, yet if we ſhould have no greater light, we ſhould have a continual night.
Ʋſe 3. Then the hearts embracings of the Apoſtles Writings, and finding the fruits of them, bringeth not melancholy, and dumpiſhneſſe, as the World thinks, but fulneſſe of joy.
Ʋſe 4. Then let us ſearch the Apoſtles Writings, and enquire for full joy out of them; but of that in the next,
1 JOH. 1.4.
This laſt Uſe our Saviour teacheth us, to make in the like buſineſſe, Joh. 5.39.
How this joy is wrought at the firſt, in their Writings is ſhewed before, as,
1 By knowledge of our communion with Satan by nature.
2 By remorſe of Conſcience in us, by the force of that communion.
3 By earneſtly deſiring, hungring, and thirſting after deliverance by Chriſt.
4 By peace of Conſcience ariſing from the ſence of that deliverance.
Now then we are to ſearch their Writings, to ſee by what means this joy thus begun, may be continued and preſerved.